Rope-grip.



Patented Feb. 25, |902.l

H. M. SACKETT.

ROPE GRIP.

(Application led June 17, 1901.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

I-IOMER M. SACKETT, OF TELLURIDE, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO T-IIE A. LESOHEN 95 SONS ROPE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A COB.-

PORATION OF MISSOURI.

ROPE-GRIP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 694,029, dated February 25, 1902. Application iiled June 17. 1901. Serial No. 64,849. (No model.) l

T0 all whom/ t 'may concern.

Be it known that I, HOMER M. SACKETT, a citizen of the United States'ofAmerica, residing at Telluride, in the county of San Miguel and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rope- Grips; and I do declare the following to bea full, clear, and exact description ot the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. f.

My invention relates to improvements in rope-gripping mechanisms for aerial wirerope tramways, and pertains to that class of rope-gripping devices by which trolley buckets, cars, and other devices are automatically gripped and released to and from the tractionrope of aerial wire-rope tram ways at, predetermined points at the tramways terminal ends; and the objects of myinvention, are, rst, to provide a simple, strong,and durable wirerope-gripping device; second, to provide a rope-gripping device that comprises a plurality of cooperating levers and amovable and adj ustable j aw gripping mechanism arranged to grip a rope and at the same time to lock itself against accidental'ungripment, and, third, to provide a rope-gripping device `vthat is particularly adapted to the trolley buckets and oars of that system or type of aerial wire-rope tramways known as double rope tramways, in which one rope is a standingor stationary rope uponwhich the trolley of the trolley buckets or cars run and the other rope is an endless rope that runs continuouslybelow the standing or stationary rope when a tramway is in operation. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which* Figure 1 is a Sectional elevation of my ropegripping device substantially on line A of Fig. 5 and line B of Fig. 4, except that the handle of Fig. 5 is shown in side elevation in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4. on the plate that contines the wedge and adjustable jaw in their operative position is removed; but this plate, however, is shown in section in Fig. 1. In this View the jaws are shown in gripping position with a section of .wire rope gripped between them. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of Fig. 5 on line O through the shellor casing of the grip only, the locking-levers and handle beingl shown in elevation. InV this igure the jawsare shown with a piece of rope gripped between them. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the casing and asection al View of the frame on lines E of Fig. 1 of the grip in the direction of the arrow EA, the hood ontne bottom of the casing of the grip being removed. Fig. 4. is a top plan view of the grip with the adjustable jaw-confining plate removed, the jaws being shown gripping a piece of rope; and Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the grip, showing-a piece of rope gripped between the jaws.

Similar' numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views. j

Referring to thedrawings, the numeral 6 designates the casing of the grip. This casing comprises a cylindrical-shaped hollow steel casting having a flange lportion 7 at one end,.from which projects at one side a block portion 8, in which a recess 9 is formed, in 1 which rests loosely one of the rope-gripping jaws 10. A wedge 11, which is made ofsuitable metal, rests alsoin the recess 9 between the back of the jaw and a wall 12, that is formed to stand at a diverging angle to the gripping-face13 of the jaw 10 to register against the adjacent inclinedside ofthe wedge 11, the opposite sideof the wedge andthe back of the jaw being arranged parallel with the gripping-face 131`of `the j aw. Between the wall'12 andthe outside edge of ther projecting. portion a recess-14 is formed to lessen the weight of the casing as much as possible; A plate 15.is' secured to the top of the block by screws 15A and 15?. and is arranged to extend over' the wedgeA and .a portion of the length and width of the jaw. Thejaw and the wedge are made of slightly `less .thickness than the depth of the recess in *which they rest in order that they may move freely under it.

The `body 0E the casing is turned round and fitted to rotate in a supporting-frame 16, which is of less thickness than the length of the body of the casing and is bored out cen- IOO trally to fit up against the under side of the flange end of the casing. The frame is ser cured rotatably on the casing by a hood 17, which comprises a round cup-shaped casting that is bored out at its inner edge to fit over the open end ol' the casing below the supporting-frame. This hood is secured to the casing by threaded stud-screws 18, which extend loosely through the shell of the hood and are threaded to the shell of the casing. This hood covers and closes the lower or open end of the casing. The casing and the hood are thus rotatably mounted in the supporting-frame and vare freev to turn in either direction in it which permits vthe jaws to adjust themselves to the inclination ofthe traction-rope 19, as the ropes of aerial wire-rope tramways sag more or less between their supports under the weight of the trolley buckets and cars.

The jaw is provided with a semicircular groove 20,which is adapted to register against nearly one-half of the rope 19. Through the flange 7 a hole 21 is formed that extends from the edge of the,` block 8 to close to the peripheral edge of the flange. From the block 8 and from the sides ot" the hole ribs 22 and 23 project. These ribs curve down and blend into the flange close to its peripheral edge. Through these projecting ribs I place a pin 24, which I position preferably-in the center of the circumference of the grips casing and parallel with the face of the jaw 10, arranging it to project beyond them and securing it in them by placing split pins 25 through their ends. A clearance-space 26 is formed in the liange 7 under the ends of the pin. To the pin 24, between the ribs 22 and 23, I pivot a lever 27, which extends upward beyond the pin and is provided at its upper ond with a jaw 28, that extends across its end. This lever and jaw I term the reciprocating lever and the reciprocating jaw. The jaw 28 is preferably ofthe same length, arranged opposite jaw 10 and provided with a semicircular groove 29 in its face adapted to engage the curved surface of the rope 19. The opposite end of this lever 27 extends into the casing to near-its opposite end and to close tothe side of the casing farthest from the block. Through the lower end of the lever 27 I extend a pin 30, on the ends of which, on either side of the lever 27, I pivotally mount oneend of two levers 31 and 32, securing them to the pin by extending split pins 30A through their ends, the opposite ends of which extend to the central portion of the casing, where they are pivotally mounted on a pin 33. On the opposite side ot' the inner periphery of the casing from the depending end of the lever 27 I cast integral with the casing two lugs 35 and 36, which are placed at a short distance apart. Through the central portion of these lugs I extend, by drilling a hole 37A through the casing, a pin 37, preferably securing it to them by extending split pins 38 through the ends of the pin. Ipivotally secure to this pin 37, between the lugs 35 and 36, one end of a lever 39, the opposite end of which extends to the central portion of the casing and is pivotally mounted between the ends of the levers 31 and 32 on the pin 33. I preferably make the lengt-l1 of the levers 31 and 32 and the lever 39 equal, so that the piu 33 will be in the center of the casing and in substantially vertical alinement with the -pin 24. The pin 33 extends through and beyond the ends of the levers 3l and 32, and on its opposite ends I pivotally mount one end of. two levers 40 and 41, which I term the toggle actuating-levers. The toggle actuatinglevers extend from the pin 33 up through the hole 8 in the flange 7 and at their opposite ends are pivotally secured by a pin 44 to a handle 45 at a short distance from its lower end. The lower end of the handle is pivotally secured between the ribs 22 and 23 to a pin 46, that extends through the projecting ribs 22 and 23. This pin 46 is secured to the projecting ribs againstaccidental displacement by split pins` 47, which are extended through its ends, which project beyond both of the ribs. The handle is preferably provided with a bend 45A adjacent to its lower end, which extends toward the jaw and then curves back and curves upward, leaving its top end about in line with its lower end. The top end of the handle is preferably provided with a cross-bar 45B, pivoted to the pin 44 between the ends of the two levers 40 and 41, and the pin 44 extends beyond the levers and is secured against displacement from them preferably by split pins 48,which are extended through its opposite ends outside of the levers. The levers 40 and 4l are provided with oifset portions 49 and 50, so arranged as `to permit operative movement of the levers 27, 31, and 32 between them. arranged to bring the upper ends of` these levers close enough together to pass freely through the hole 7 in the flange.

Along the under side of the side of the hole 8 of the flange 7I arrange strengthening-ribs 51 and 52. These ribs extend across the casing, and at that side of the casing that lies under the projecting block they curve down and blend into the lugs 35 and 36.`

The inner surface of the hood is preferably These otfsets are IOO IIO

provided with two projecting ears 53 an'd`54`,

which are cast integral with it. These ears are positioned to extend up by the endsof the pin 33 and the ends of the levers 31 and 32. These ears are made wide enoughto cover the ends of the pin 33 and operate to prevent its accidental displacement from the levers. If preferred, however, these ears may be dispensed with, and the pin may be secured to the levers by extending splitpins throughits ends similarto the pin 44. The levers 31, 32, and 39 are preferably of substantially the same length and are arranged to form a toggle, one end of the lever 39 being pivotally fixed', the reciprocating j aw-lever being pivotally secured at one end to the opposite end of the togglc, and the actuating-levers being pivotally secured to the center of the toggle. The actuating-levers and the jaw-lever are so arranged and pivotally supported relative tothe toggle`J levers and to each other that whenthe hand'lef is moved from the horizontal position, in

which it is shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, to the vertical position against orsubstantially against the jaw, in which position it is shown in Fig. l, the actuating-levers are lifted and draw the toggle-levers up from the position in which they are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, which is their normalposition of disuse, and moves the lower end of the jaw-lever out from the position in which it is shown in dotted lines and causes its` jaw end to move toward the opposite jaw 10 and grip the rope 19 between them, the toggle-levers 31, 32,v

and 39, the actuating-levers 40 and 41, and the reciprocating jaw-lever all moving from the position in which they are shown in dotted lines into the position they are shown in full in Fig. 1, which is their full operative gripping position, in which position the three centers of the toggle have been moved into axial alinement and the pivotal pins 33 and 4i and 46 of theA toggle and actuating lever and handle have also been moved into axial alinement. The center of the pin 33 and the center of the pin of the actuating-levers and the center of the pin of the handle when in alinement, as shown iny Fig. 1, form a posi.- tive and vsat'e lock against the accidental movement of the handle, and the toggle when its centers are in alinement, as shown in Fig. 1, forms a positive lock against the accidental relaxation of the grip of the jaws on the rope 19. When the handle is moved into the position in which it is shown in dotted lines, the actuating-levers and the jaw-lever and the toggle-levers all move into the position in which they are shown in dotted lines. The jaw 2S releases the rope and moves back far enough to allow the rope to be moved entirely out of its groove.

It is necessary in order to compensate for the wear of a rope and also to secure any desirable gripping pressure on the rope that one of the jaws be made adjustable. I preferably carry out this feature of my invention by means of the wedge 11 and the loose jaw 10 and in the following manner: On the'outside of the block I form a lug 55,and through its central portion, in line with the central portion of the thick end ofthe wedge, I form a threaded hole in which I thread aset-screw 56, which is extended against the thick end of the wedge. A'check-nut 57 is threaded on the set-screw to lock it in an adjusted position. The position of the jaw 10 is adjusted relatively to the jaw 28 and'to its gripping pressure on the rope by turning the set-screw v`to move the wedge in a direction to move the jaw out toward the jaw 2S or by turning the set-screw to allow thewed ge and jaw to move back away from lthe jaw 2S. While the jaws for each grip are preferably made for a certain size of rope, the adjustment of the jaw 10 enables ropes of either larger or vsmaller size to be gripped'than the size thegrooves in the jaws are particularly made to grip.

The frame 16 is of preferably rectangular outline and is provided on two ofrits opposite sides with lugs 58 and 59, through each of which bolt-holes 60 and Glare formed-,through v which bolts are placed andthe frame secured to a trolley bucket or car. I do not illustrate either of these devices in connection with 'my grip, as they do not form any part of my present invention. In operation, however, the grip-frame is secured.- inany convenient manner to a trolley bucket or car in such a posi tion that its jaws will surround the running rope when the trolley bucket or car is voperatively mounted on the standing rope of an aerial wire-ropetramway, and at each terminal end ofthe tramway an arm of suitable form and length is fixed at or adjacent to the point where the trolly buckets or 4cars are loaded and is positioned in the traveling lpath of the handle of the grip, so that as the buckets or cars move along the tramway the handles ofthe grips will engage the arm and will move it to cause the jaws to grip the rope. At the unloading end of the tramway a suitable arm is fixed in a position to move the at any desired point. y

I donot illustrate an arm for automatically moving the handle to grip or release the rope, as it does not form any part of my invention, as the handle can be operated by hand as well as byasuitably-arranged and positioned lever.

The casing and its grippingI mechanism are so positioned, arranged, and balanced that the casing will not turn within the frame when the rope is released from the grip of the jaws.

The movement of the levers from their normal position of disuse to their operative grip-A ping position is 4at first a quick movement,

which decreases rapidly until the levers come to a stop with their centers in alinement, vat

which point the greatest gripping pressure is exerted on the rope.

While I have illustrated and describedthe preferred construction and arrangement of my rope-gripping device as applied to rope-f tramways, I do not wish to be limited to the arrangement and construction shown or to limit its application to any particular machine,device, or use,as changes might be made' IOO io adjust said loose abutment-jaw relative to said rope-gripping jaw substantially as described.

2. In a rope-grip, the combination of the supporting-frame, the hollow cylindrical casing revolubly mounted therein and the hood detachably secured to said casing and arranged to confine said casing to said frame, with a toggle comprising a lever pivoted at one end to the inner peripheryof said casing `zo adjacent to said hood and having its opposite end extend to the central portionof said casing, leversl pivotally secured at one end on each side of the free end of said lever, a ropegripping lever pivoted intermediate of its ends in said casing having a rope-receiving jaw formed on one end and having its opposite end pivotally secured to the free ends of said toggle-levers, toggle actuating-levers pivotally secured at one end to the central 3o pivotal point of said toggle-levers, a grip-actuating lever or handle pivot-ally supported `in said casing and arranged to swing a predetermined distance and pivotally secured intermediate of its ends to the free end of said toggle actuating-levers, a recess in said casing having an open side facing said rope-gripping lever-jaw, a loose abutment rope-receiving jaw secured freely and loosely in said open recess and arranged opposite to said rope- 4o gripping lever-jaw to grip and adjustitself to bear evenly on a rope between them, a fixed abutment in said recess, a sliding wedge titting loosely between said loose abutment rope-receiving jaw and said fixed abutment of said recess and a screw arranged to adjust said wedge to move said abutment-j aw to and from said rope-gripping lever-jaw, substantially as described.

3. In a rope-grip, the combination with the frame and hood of the revoluble casing containing an open-ended, dovetail-shaped recess, a loose rope-gripping jaw, having laterally-extended dovetailed portionsat its opposite ends adjacent to one side, fitting loosely in said dovetailcd recess, a rope-receiving recess in the edge of its opposite side, a iixed abutment in said dovetailed recess, a loose wedge-block in said recess fitting loosely between said loose jaw and the xed wall of said recess, and an adjustable screw threaded in the wall of said recess and arranged to bear loosely against one end of said wedge-block, with the reciprocating lower jaw having a rope-gripping jawat its upper end containing a rope-receivin g groove; the pin pivotally connecting said reciprocating lever to said casing, the pin through the lower end of said reciprocating lever, the toggle-levers pivotally connected at one of their ends to said pin on each side of the lower end of said reciprocating lever, the pin pivotally connecting Ithe opposite end of said toggle-levers, the togglelever pivotally connected at one end to said pin between said toggle-levers, the pin pivotally securing the opposite end of said togglelever to said casing, the toggle actuating-levers pivotally connected at one end on the central pin of said toggle-levers, the grip-operating handle, the pin pivotally securing said grip-operating curved handle to said casing, the pin pivotally connecting the opposite end of said toggle-levers to said grip-operating handle, and means for securing said pivotal pins in their respective operative positions, substantially' as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses@ I-IOMER M. SACKE'FT.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. PAINTER, F. V. CURRY. 

